In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has inadvertently unveiled what appears to be Zenimax Media’s comprehensive game release schedule. Among the notable mentions are the highly-anticipated Fallout 3 Remaster, TES 4: Oblivion Remastered, and Dishonored 3.
Although the leaked schedule hails from 2020 and is now outdated, it sheds light on some potentially significant future releases, especially those connected to Microsoft. This document surfaced as part of the aftermath of the FTC’s legal battle with Microsoft, initially uncovered during Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media.
Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Arkane Studios, id Software, and more, naturally had discussions about its future game releases during the acquisition negotiations. These discussions were not intended for public consumption, and the FTC was likely expected to redact them before their release.
A Glimpse into Bethesda’s Gaming Future The leaked schedule reveals that Zenimax and its subsidiary studios were actively working on several unannounced projects in 2020, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what might have been:
- The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster: Slated for the fiscal year 2022.
- Fallout 3 Remaster: Expected in the fiscal year 2024.
- Doom: Year Zero with DLC: A project set to span from fiscal year 2023 onwards.
- Ghostwire: Tokyo 2: Anticipated for the fiscal year 2024.
- Dishonored 3: Another title planned for the fiscal year 2024.
Beyond these titles, the document also makes reference to:
- Indiana Jones title: Scheduled for the fiscal year 2022.
- Project Kestrel and its DLC: Projected for the fiscal year 2023.
- Project Platinum: Envisioned for the fiscal year 2023.
- A mysterious “licensed IP game”: Teased for the fiscal year 2024.
It’s essential to recognize that these were speculative estimates at the time of the document’s creation in 2020. As of 2023, with the release of Starfield, it’s clear that most of the mentioned projects have experienced delays or changes in development timelines.
However, there is a strong likelihood that some of the undisclosed games referenced in the leak are still in progress, albeit potentially with revised release dates.
